Clifford A. Wolff

Clifford A. Wolff is a litigation attorney based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States.

Personal background

Clifford A. Wolff was born in New York City on April 7, 1970, the son of Judy Wolff and Malcolm Wolff. Malcolm Wolff was a vice-president for CBS in New York City from 1980 to 1987. After working in the corporate environment, Malcolm Wolff pursued the artistic path, attending the Florence Academy of Art in Italy. Malcolm Wolff currently has several sculptures on permanent exhibition in Asheville, North Carolina, St. Augustine, Florida, and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Clifford Alan Wolff was the namesake of his great-aunt, Claire Alice Wolff, who hosted a talk radio show in New York City from 1942 to 1945. Her radio show was recorded and broadcast from the 86th floor of the Empire State Building in the CBS Studios. The radio program was discontinued when a B-25 Mitchell crashed into the north side of the 79th floor of the building. In 1946, Claire Wolff conceived the idea of the first interfaith postage stamp. It was known as "The Four Chaplains" and commemorated the sacrifice of four clergymen in the United States Army who gave up their life preservers to other service men aboard the troop transport Dorchester. The four clergy died so that other servicemen could live. The United States Post Office approved the stamp in 1948 for general sale and circulation. It was the first postage stamp ever issued by the Post Office commemorating a Jewish individual, Rabbi Alexander Goode.^[1] From this recognition, there now exists a stained glass window in the chapel of the Pentagon.

Educational background

Wolff attended Nova Elementary and Middle School in Davie, Florida. He went on to attend Coral Springs High School in Coral Springs, Florida. While a high school student, Wolff was a member of the National Honor Society, Debate Team and Math Team. He graduated in the top of his high school class in 1988. He then attended the University of Florida, in Gainesville, where he majored in English literature and mathematics at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity, was routinely appointed to the Dean's List for academic excellence, and was active in campus politics. He graduated in 1992 as a University of Florida Presidential Scholar. This award was presented to students graduating with excellent academic credentials and esteemed community service.

Wolff then attended the University of Florida Levin College of Law. He was immediately recognized for his advocacy skills. He was the only first-year law student in his class chosen for both the University of Florida Trial Team and the Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court Board. He earned the award of Champion Advocate at the 1995 Mock Trial Competition sponsored by the Association of Trial Lawyers of America in Salt Lake City, Utah. Wolff also competed in appellate argument competitions in Chicago, New York City, and St. Louis. He graduated from law school in 1995. He was one of just two law students who received upon graduation election into the international advocacy honorary known as The Order of Barristers, signifying excellence in litigation skills.

Work history

Wolff was immediately admitted to the Florida Bar and went to work for Josephs, Jack and Gaebe, a litigation boutique in Miami. He represented U-Haul International and its affiliates and was also involved in multi-million dollar commercial litigation throughout Florida. Wolff was then courted by the law firm of Gordon, Hargrove and James in Fort Lauderdale. He accepted the position and started representing AT&T, BellSouth, Yahoo!, U-Haul, Carrier Corporation, Schindler Group, Otis Elevator Corporation, UTC Companies and W.R. Grace and Company. Wolff filed a lawsuit on behalf of W.R. Grace and Company against American International Group (AIG) seeking reimbursement of hundreds of millions of dollars paid by W.R. Grace to resolve mass tort asbestos claims. AIG eventually capitulated under pressure following the depositions of various claims adjusters. This resolution was considered by many to be the real-life epilogue to the John Grisham novel A Civil Action. After this success, Wolff was one of the youngest attorneys ever made partner at the law firm of Gordon, Hargrove and James. Shortly after being elected a law partner at Gordon, Hargrove and James, and at the request of several clients, Wolff started his own law firm, the Wolff Law Firm, in 2005.

In addition to working as a commercial litigator, Wolff is currently the president of Blaise Capital, Inc., a holding company for various assets including real estate and intellectual property. Wolff is actively involved in the valuation, purchase, defense and licensing of such assets. He also acts as personal counsel for chief executive officers of companies such as Barnes & Noble, Sam's Club, Hiller Industries, Archer Diversified, The Given Factory and HopGrade.

Published works

In addition to his work with some preeminent clients, Mr. Wolff was involved in a matter for Boca Burger, a division of Kraft Foods. Mr. Wolff, along with other members of his law firm, were successful at the trial court level. However, the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal disagreed with Mr. Wolff, and sanctioned his law firm pursuant to Florida Statute 57.105.^[2] The issue was appealed and reached the Florida Supreme Court. The Florida Supreme Court agreed with Mr. Wolff and his law firm.^[3] The Florida Supreme Court held that the appellate court incorrectly adjudicated the matter, reversed the decision of the appellate court, reversed sanctions, determined that the issue of preemption pursuant to the Florida Food Safety Act was a valid defense to be presented at the initial stages of litigation. These decisions have been cited over thirty five (35) times by Florida courts since 2005.

Mr. Wolff has since been the managing partner of The Wolff Law Firm^[4] located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Among other matters, Mr. Wolff successfully defended claims of usury.^[5] Mr. Wolff has countless awards and innumerable public service activities. Mr. Wolff is admitted to practice law in Florida, New York and Washington, D.C. Mr. Wolff currently holds an AV-Rated Preeminent ranking of 5.0 out of 5.0 by the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review System.^[6] Less than five percent of all attorneys are AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell. In 2010, Mr. Wolff was also selected as a "Florida Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyers Magazine. Less than five percent of lawyers are selected by the magazine after a nomination and peer-review process. Mr. Wolff effectively represents Fortune 100 companies, Florida 500 Companies, and some of the wealthiest businesspersons in South Florida.

Mr. Wolff is listed in Who's Who of American Law, Who's Who of Emerging Leaders, has been seen on television on CNN with Wolf Blitzer on The Situation Room and in publications such as The Miami Herald, the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, the New York Daily News, the South Florida Business Journal and Daily Business Review. Mr. Wolff currently represents construction companies, roofing companies, health care companies, foreign real estate investors and vitamin companies based in Florida.

Among the most notable clients, The Wolff Law Firm represents Alcor Life Extension Foundation,^[7] the largest cryonics company in the world. Mr. Wolff advocated for—and successfully obtained—on behalf of an Alcor member the first known "virtual autopsy" in Florida. The virtual autopsy was performed using a portable CT Scan in Hillsborough County, Florida to avoid intrusion into the brain of an Alcor member after death. The matter received a great deal of media attention. In February 2010, Mr. Wolff successfully obtained an order from a court in Palm Beach County, Florida for the second virtual autopsy known in Florida for yet another Alcor member. Mr. Wolff was also interviewed extensively on ABC News, Good Morning Phoenix on KTVK, and The Denver Post in connection with litigation over an Alcor member from Colorado Springs, Colorado who left her remains to Alcor pursuant to the Colorado Disposition of Remains Act and the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act. The family of the Alcor member sought revocation of the anatomical gift based on an alleged change of a financial beneficiary in connection with a life insurance annuity. Alcor prevailed in court and the written desire of the Alcor member to be cryopreserved was fulfilled.

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